Posted on 09/06/2006 7:34:31 AM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
Give me rights to OJ's name
Goldman continues to believe Simpson killed his son and said it would be 'poetic justice' to take away the fame Goldman believes helped the football star prevail in the criminal case Simpson ... accused of avoiding paying the $44 million lawsuit award.
Advertisement AdvertisementThe father of murder victim Ron Goldman has asked a court to give him the publicity rights to the name, image and likeness of O J Simpson, who has failed to pay a $44 million judgment in a 1997 wrongful death lawsuit.
"He personally has never paid a dime on the judgment to anyone," Fred Goldman said. "He has made it very clear over the years that he has no intention of doing so."
The petition, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, asks that Simpson's "right of publicity" be transferred to help pay off the Goldman family's portion of the award, estimated at about $26 million, plus interest.
A hearing was scheduled for October 17.
Simpson, who lives in Florida, was acquitted after a criminal trial of the June 12, 1994, slayings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, outside her Brentwood home. No one else has been arrested.
The Goldman and Brown families later sued Simpson. A civil court jury, using a lesser standard of proof than is required at a criminal trial, found him liable for the killings in 1997.
Goldman continues to believe Simpson killed his son and said it would be "poetic justice" to take away the fame Goldman believes helped the football star prevail in the criminal case.
Simpson has avoided paying the civil judgment because his National Football League pension and his Florida home cannot legally be seized. However, Goldman's petition contends Simpson has continued to earn money through appearances and autograph signings.
Goldman said he wants to take from Simpson "what we perceive is probably the most important thing to him, and that's his ego, and that's the opportunity to use his name and likeness to earn money."
Yale Galanter, Simpson's attorney, said he would review the petition but had not found any legal precedent that gives a court the authority to take publicity rights.
He also denied that Simpson had avoided paying the lawsuit award.
"It's not a question of intentionally trying to avoid anything," he said.
"OJ's life is very simply an open book. There is no money."
He estimated that Simpson makes only a few thousand dollars from autograph-signing sessions.
While publicity rights have been sold or transferred, the petition to forcibly take them to satisfy a lawsuit award is an untried legal maneuver, said Karl Manders, owner of Continental Enterprises, an Indianapolis-based company that designs and implements intellectual property protection programs.
Manders said he suggested the idea to Goldman.
AP
Interesting approach...but not a chance of success.
One way or another, Simpson will eventually face judgment. Chances are it won't be in any earthly court, though.
i just don't understand how you can be aquitted of a crime in court and yet pay for a crime the court says you did not commit. Personally, I think it is gay...
An excellent idea!
Grasping at straws. I'm truly sorry Mr. Goldman's son died, but it's time to move on and stop obsessing.
Simpson was acquitted in criminal court, but lost the civil suit and has refused to pay the civil judgement.
Legally change OJ's name, against his will, to "Lying Murderer?"
I think the Goldman family needs to let go and just let justice come for OJ after death. OJ is a jerk and a murderer, but seeking revenge forever is not going to help this family let go. I'm not saying they need to forgive cause I don't think they should. I'm simply saying for their sakes they need to let go of seeking justice for OJ.
I think dubie knows that. What I think he's saying is that it doesn't make sense to lose a "civil suit" for doing something one was already acquitted of. At least, I don't think it makes sense.
I totally believe OJ did it by the way. But this system we have now veers perilously close to double-jeopardy.
Eventually, yes. One judgment, coming for each of us, can't be appealed.
I would think that Goldman would be better off just attaching any money OJ makes, rather than actually owning the name and deciding how to use it. That way he does not have to constantly think about the name and have it in front of him.
Although the pain of what he has had to endure, and OJ's name, never leave him for a second, I'm sure.
This is not a recipe for finding solace or peace, for Mr. Goldman. I have to say I find something creepy about wanting the "rights to the name" of one's son's murderer. I'd think he'd want nothing to do with O.J.'s "name", or anything else. Is Mr. Goldman planning to launch a line of O.J. Simpson action figures?
Different standards.
I don't understand how someone can be accused of a crime in Brentwood yet tried in downtown LA just because he is famous. He did not face a jury of his peers.
Lawsuits are really only good business for lawyers.
That said, OJ definitely had the means to satisfy some of the judgement, but I doubt he had anywhere near the $44 million that the Goldmans and Browns were awarded. But people who slit throats probably don't worry too much about paying their legal bills.
All will be made right when Simpson finds "THE REAL KILLAS".
That's because you don't understand what the criminal court said. It did NOT say, "OJ didn't do it." What it said was, "The state did not prove it's case beyond a reasonable doubt."
Finally, Goldman can embark on a World Tour as the rightful O.J. Simpson.
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